Rev. R. Bruce Cinquegrani

Father Bruce was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Robert F. and Mary Cinquegrani. Following his graduation from college, he moved to Memphis where he taught at Bishop Byrne High School from 1973 to 1975 at which time he entered the theologate as a candidate for the priesthood for the Diocese of Memphis.

His theological studies were spent at the North American College in Rome and St. Meinrad School of Theology in Southern Indiana. He graduated from St. Meinrad with a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis in March 1979.

Following his ordination Fr. Bruce was assigned as Associate Pastor of St. Ann Church in Bartlett, Tennessee where he remained until 1982. From 1982 to 1985, Father Bruce was assigned as Chaplain and Director of Religious Education for Bishop Byrne High School and also as Administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Memphis. During this same time, he was pursuing doctoral studies in counseling psychology at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.

In the summer of 1985 Fr. Bruce began a program of studies in liturgy and worship at the University of NotreDame, South Bend, IN leading to the Masters Degree in Liturgical Theology which he received August 1986. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, Fr. Bruce was appointed Director of Vocations and Secretary for Worship and Spiritual Life for the Diocese of Memphis.

Fr. Bruce continued to serve as Director of Seminarians until June of1999; and Director of Worship until June 2005. In July of 1992, Father Bruce was appointed pastor of St. Ann Parish in Bartlett, TN. He served St. Ann as pastor until June 2006 at which time, Bishop Steib appointed him pastor of St. Brigid Church, Memphis, TN, his current assignment.

In addition to his pastorate here at St. Brigid, Father Bruce was appointed by Bishop Steib as Episcopal Vicar for Divine Worship, Spiritual Life and Catechesis for the Diocese of Memphis.

Father Bruce has one sibling, also a Catholic priest, Father David J. Cinquegrani, currently Director of Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, Connecticut.